SHILLONG, March 12: Calling the State Youth Policy 2021 ‘vague’, city-based youth body, The Dawn, on Friday demanded investment in skill development and reforms in the education and business sectors.
Addressing a press conference here, Avner Pariat, 34, a member of the organisation and columnist, said only 500 out of 11 lakh youths in the state have put forward their suggestions on the policy.
“This reflects that there is a lack of communication between policy makers and the masses,” he said.
Pariat suggested that the funding pattern should focus on sustainable training programmes to create employment opportunities for the youth.On the steep hike in the number of school dropouts in the state, among the school children, he said that there was a lack of commitment on the part of the government to address the problem.
On unemployment, he said, “Most industrial training institutes within Meghalaya continue to teach outdated courses and techniques. This decreases employment opportunities. Also, start-ups do not get enough funds to sustain.” Pariat also demanded grants for select artistes to help them grow.